October 25, 2022 The public healthcare system was on the verge of collapse. The DAB had been urging the government to divert more citizens to the private healthcare system. The two new pilot public-private partnership programmes, including Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme and pilot PPP programme for the provision of psychiatric specialist out-patient service, proposed in the new Policy Address was considered as a response to the DAB’s request. However, as the devil was in the details, Edward Leung would organize a series of activities to hear the views of citizens. The collected data would be researched and analyzed, and a proposal recommending optimization of waiting time for public healthcare services and public-private partnership collaboration would be put forward. The following 10 proposals of the DAB would be put forward in the LegCo and open to the public for discussion: Set a target for the median average waiting time for stable new cases in public specialist services Set more specific performance indicators for PPPs Implement the details of Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme Implement more public-private partnerships in specialist outpatient clinics Optimize the Voluntary Medical Insurance Scheme for Civil Servants so as to release the resources of public hospitals Increase patients’ confidence and make well use of each PPP quota Streamline the internal referral process of the HA and strengthen the support of the Family Medicine for specialist outpatient clinics Proactively invite specialist doctors in private market to take part in collaboration Clarify the relationship between primary care providers Review the positioning and coordination of hospitals in the district Edward Leung also launched a ten episodes program called “Edward examines the healthcare system” to enhance citizens’ understanding of the problems facing the public healthcare system and explore the current situation faced by the public healthcare system, difficulties, and solutions. 1st episode (Chinese only) : https://youtu.be/PfbfoAg-OKU 2nd episode (Chinese only) : https://youtu.be/fwUcSDiesqU Media enquiries: DAB Health Services Spokesperson, LegCo member Edward Leung (9665 0660)

October 24, 2022 The DAB Business and Professional Affairs Committee hosted the “Hundred Rivers” Serial Forum today. The topic was innovation and technology and "Industry 4.0". The Chief Executive Mr. John Lee officiated at the opening, with Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Professor Sun Dong, Chairman of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Dr. Sunny Chiu, Founding President of HK Bio-Med Innotech Association Professor Lo as guest speakers. In his opening remarks, Chief Executive John Lee said the development of innovation and technology and re-industrialization are the top priorities of the government to create impetus for growth. DAB Chairperson Starry Lee said that the Chief Executive had set out many policy objectives and measures in his policy address to enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong's manufacturing industry through innovation and technology. These policies will create a favorable environment for Hong Kong's technology and innovation industries and diversified development of industries. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Professor Sun Dong pointed out that drawing from the experience of South Korea, Singapore and Shenzhen, it had been proven that innovation and technology were important engine to create impetus for a high-quality economy. Chairman of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Dr. Sunny Chiu said medicine and food products made in Hong Kong have a good international reputation. The Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC) under planning by the Science and Technology Park will most likely be advanced food manufacturing related. Founding President of HK Bio-Med Innotech Association Professor Lo said that Hong Kong's bio-med economy faced many challenges such as fragmentation of transformation platform and low commercialised nature of scientific achievements, the high business overhead costs and living costs, and the lack of talent policy support. The integrated development in the Greater Bay Area brings new opportunity to the industry. Holden Chow, Chairperson of the DAB Business and Professional Affairs Committee and LegCo member, said that the DAB welcomed the first policy address of the Chief Executive to provide support for the development of I&T and Industry 4.0. In the future, the DAB will continue to hear views of the industry, to promote re-industrialization, and to create a new economic outlook for Hong Kong. Ben Chan, Vice Chairman of the DAB Business and Professional Affairs Committee and LegCo member, hoped that the market and the business sector would seize this development opportunity and promote the development of Hong Kong's I&T and Industrialization 4.0 together. Media enquiry: Chairperson of the DAB Business and Professional Affairs Committee Holden Chow (3703 9870) Vice-chairperson of the DAB Business and Professional Affairs Committee Ben Chan (9274 7035)

October 23, 2022 The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China approved the report delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping on behalf of the 19th Central Committee. The DAB believes that this report provides a direction and action guide for the entire Chinese people to unite and realise the Second Centenary Goal. The DAB also fully supports the new central leadership with General Secretary Xi Jinping at the core to lead the country's future development, which is an important guarantee for the realization of the great blueprint and goals set by the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The DAB firmly believes that the new central leadership of the Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core cares about the well-being of Hong Kong compatriots, and Hong Kong’s order restoration and prosperity is an important aspect of realization its good governance. In this new phase, Hong Kong shall follow the direction set out in the 20th CPC National Congress, grasp its positioning and seize opportunities, integrate into the national development, promote social and economic development on all fronts, improve people's livelihood, and open up a new era for good governance and prosperity, and contribute to the country’s modernization and national rejuvenation.

October 19, 2022 The DAB believed that the Chief Executive's new Policy Address embodied the essence of the work on Hong Kong and Macau discussed in the 20th CPC National Congress and revealed the spirit of President Xi Jinping's speech on July 1. The Policy Address also incorporated many of DAB’s proposals which would better help implement “One Country, Two Systems” and "patriots administering Hong Kong", resolve deep rooted social contradictions and deal with complicated international trend, inject impetus to Hong Kong's governance. Overall, the DAB welcomed and acknowledged the Policy Address. In respect of enhancing effectiveness of governance, the Chief Executive in his Policy Address attached importance to the promotion and education of the Constitution and the Basic Law, as well as improving the requirements for civil servants, including setting up KPIs in various departments, enhancing civil servant training and strengthening the reward and punishment system. In respect of creating strong impetus for growth, the Policy Address considred the impact of the epidemic and international influences on Hong Kong and placed emphasis on injecting impetus into the economy, integrating into national development and attracting talents. In respect of earnestly addressing people's concerns and difficulties in daily life, the Chief Executive put forward many proposals in terms of land supply and housing, such as increasing land and housing supply, capping the waiting time for public rental housing and setting a minimum size, as well as a number of recommendations on transportation infrastructure. In respect of striving for stability, the Policy Address ignited people’s hope by proposing new measures in the areas of healthcare, poverty alleviation, caring for the elderly and vulnerable groups and environmental hygiene. The DAB urged all sectors of the society to continue to support the government’s governance, and would continue to assist and monitor the government in implementing the measures previously announced and in this Policy Address. We will continue to propose policy initiatives on improving the government’s governance to ensure Hong Kong to achieve greater prosperity under the steadfast and successful implementation of One Country, Two Systems. Media enquiry: DAB Chairperson Ms. Starry Lee (9457 9853)

October 18, 2022 The DAB welcomed the government’s further relaxation of epidemic prevention measures which were announced in the statement released this evening that the restriction on prohibited gathering would be relaxed from Oct 20 from 4 to 12 people. DAB LegCo member Mr. Edward Leung received many inquiries from citizens, especially those children and elderly without smartphones, about the arrangement of the "Testing Registration Code". He agreed that allowing persons to undergo voluntary testing help implement targeted anti-epidemic strategies, but the government should allow the family member to register in his/her own smartphone the Testing Registration Code of the children and the elderly along with by reference to the arrangement of "Parent-Child Electronic Vaccination Record ". He also requested the government to issue reminder to citizens who live in specified buildings listed under compulsory testing notice and have registered with the Testing Registration Code in the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app to prevent them from infringing the law or fined due to lack of notice. The DAB also recommended the government to reopen barbecue and camping sites in country parks for public in due time as these outdoor places were well ventilated and risk was small. In addition, markets and supermarkets should also be exempted from scanning Vaccine Pass as the risk of infection in these premises was not higher than that in public transport where Vaccine Pass is not required. Media enquiries: DAB Health Services Spokesperson and LegCo member Edward Leung (9665 0660)

October 18, 2022 The DAB Business and Professional Affairs Committee arranged an online meeting with the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Mr. Christopher Hui and representatives from Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited for the latest listing services in Hong Kong. Chambers of commerce and related companies of ASEAN countries and representatives from local financial sector also participated in the meeting. The DAB Chairperson Ms. Starry Lee delivered a speech stating that the purpose of the meeting was for ASEAN local groups and chambers of commerce to learn more about the listing services in Hong Kong as many of them have expressed their interest during the DAB’s visit in September. Mr. Holden Chow, Chairperson of the DAB Business and Professional Affairs Committee and LegCo member, thanked Mr. Christopher Hui for his explanation on the advantages of listing in Hong Kong, including the further expansion of the Hong Kong Stock Connect in the future to allow more overseas companies to be listed in Hong Kong and make good use of capital from the mainland. Mr. Rock Chen, DAB Financial Affairs Spokesperson and LegCo Member, said that Hong Kong’s robust financial regulatory environment and legal system and its status as an international financial center and the gateway to the Mainland and Greater Bay Area markets were sufficient for international markets to cast their votes of confidence in Hong Kong. The DAB Business and Professional Affairs Committee will follow up on latest measures on listing in Hong Kong and strive for more overseas and ASEAN companies to list in Hong Kong and make good use of our finance platform. Media enquiries: The DAB Business and Professional Affairs Committee chairperson and LegCo member Holden Chow (3703 9870) DAB Financial Affairs Spokesperson and LegCo Member Rock Chen (5398 3885/5978 8945)

October 16, 2022 The DAB was glad to note the grand opening of the 20th CPC National Congress was held today (Oct 16). The 20th CPC National Congress would formulate the goals, mission and major policies of the CPC to promote national development in the next five years and beyond, including the continual implementation of "one country, two systems" and full support for Hong Kong's development. We believed that the 20th CPC National Congress would inject impetus to Hong Kong's governance. To this end, the DAB headquarters and the 18th district branches watched the meeting live to better grasp the country's major policies in future. The DAB urged all sectors of the Hong Kong society to pay attention to and learn about the spirits of the 20th CPC National Congress, to fully and accurately understand general secretary Xi Jinping's important speech on July 1, to grasp the central government's policies for governing Hong Kong, to reinforce Hong Kong’s position in the blueprint described in the 20th CPC National Congress, to promote Hong Kong’s long-term stability and prosperity and better integration into the national development, and to make contributions to the country's modernization drive and national rejuvenation.

October 13, 2022 The National 14th Five-Year Plan and Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area showed support for Hong Kong's status as an international financial center, a global offshore RMB business hub, an international asset management center and a risk management center, and for Hong Kong’s development into a green financial center in the Greater Bay Area（GBA）. The DAB published the Proposal on Strengthening Financial Co-operation with the Mainland Greater Bay Area and put forward recommendations to the government in the following five areas: Enhance Hong Kong’s status as a green financial centre in the Greater Bay Area Optimize "PE Fund Connect" and further strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a center for PE fund registration in Asia Expedite the establishment of insurance after-sales service centres in the Greater Bay Area and the cross-boundary "Insurance Connect" Further promote the integrated development of the accounting industry in the Greater Bay Area Further facilitate the interaction and integration of residents in the Greater Bay Area Media enquiries: DAB Financial Affairs Spokesperson and LegCo member (Election Committee) Rock Chen (5398 3885/5978 8945) DAB Financial Affairs Spokesperson and LegCo member (Accountancy) Edmund Wong (5978 9007)

October 12, 2022 The Farewell to Subdivided Housing Operation and DAB jointly conducted a poll to grasp the public’s latest views on the tenancy control of subdivided units which was implemented in early 2022. The main findings of the poll: Near 30% of the respondents were not aware that the Tenancy Control Ordinance had come into effect. Near half of the respondents believed that the protection under the regulations was insufficient. 70.3% of the respondents supported setting an initial rent for leases of subdivided units. 85.0% of the respondents agreed that the government should regulate the living environment of subdivided units, including basic living conditions such as minimum area, environmental hygiene and fire safety. 73.6% of the respondents supported a subdivided housing licensing system to prohibit unlicensed rental of subdivided units; and 64.2% of the public agreed that the government should formulate a timetable to bid farewell to subdivided housing. Our recommendations: Proactively review and step-up law enforcement to ensure the effective implementation of the ordinance Improve efficiency by setting up an inter-departmental office to manage tenancy control affairs Improve the policy on transitional housing and the government should steer the construction and design of the projects to increase supply Set an initial rent in according to the average rent per square foot in the same area Study a subdivided housing licensing system to eliminate poor quality subdivided units Formulate a timetable to bid farewell to subdivided housing Media enquiry: Farewell to Subdivided Housing Operation Convenor Vincent Cheng (6373 1979)

October 8, 2022 LegCo member (New Territories North) and DAB Spokesperson on Development Mr. Edward Lau had always been concerned about land development and land resumption policies. He organized a site visit to the New Territories North with Secretary for Development Mr. Bernadette Linn today (Oct 8) and met with residents and workers who were rehoused by the government after the land resumption. Edward Lau and Bernadette Linn visited three families in Po Shek Wu Estate, Sheung Shui. These families were all squatter residents affected by land resumption under the Northeast New Development Areas Planning and were rehoused and non-means tested. They thanked the government and Edward Lau for their help and expressed that the new living environment was good and convenient. Edward Lau and Bernadette Linn then went to Hung Shui Kiu to site visit three brownfields industries which would undergo land resumption. Those brownfields were used for storing cranes, mobile elevating working platform and new vehicles. These industries had been rehoused and assisted by the Development Bureau to rezone the land. Edward Lau stated that it is necessary for the government to open up more green areas for operators to reprovision their operations as about 800 hectares of brownfield sites will be resumed for the development of the Northern Metropolis. Edward Lau understood housing needs topped the priority in land development, but many brownfield operations were also indispensable in Hong Kong. The government could play a more proactive role in implementing rehousing policies and make use of the flatted industrial buildings to rehouse brownfield industries so as to release more land. Media enquiry: LegCo member and DAB Spokesperson on Development Edward Lau (9782 7408)

October 6, 2022 The DAB organized a forum on "Consolidating Hong Kong's status as an international city for global changes in a century" today(Oct 6). The Chief Executive Mr. John Lee delivered a speech via zoom and the Financial Secretary Mr. Paul Chan officiated at the opening. Speakers included Bay Area Hong Kong Centre Research Director Professor Wang, Chief Economist of the Bank of East Asia Mr. Choi, Vice Chairman of eBRAM Mr. Sum. The forum was jointly hosted by Deputy to the National People's Congress and DAB vice-chairperson Mr. Chan Yung, DAB vice-chairperson Mr. Holden Chow, LegCo member Mr. Ben Chan and Hong Kong member of CPPCC and LegCo member Mr. Rock Chen. Chief Executive Mr. John Lee stated in his speech that the coming five years would be a critical period for Hong Kong to set a new scene. Hong Kong would continue to strengthen its established advantages, better develop emerging economies and use its strengths to contribute to the nation. The Financial Secretary Mr. Paul Chan stated that Hong Kong had still many opportunities as the focal point of economic development moved from the west to the east and Hong Kong’s unique advantages were strengthened and preserved under one country, two systems. Professor Wang said that Hong Kong has to strengthen its function as an aviation hub to maintain and consolidate its role as a super-connector. Mr. Choi said that Hong Kong’s financial sector could develop a technology financial platform and a green financial center serving the Greater Bay Area. Mr. Sum said that the government can help promote a more convenient e-mediation platform to encourage all sectors of the society to use the service. DAB Chairperson Ms. Starry Lee concluded that the DAB had been promoting Hong Kong's integration into the national development and contributed to the Greater Bay Area by submitting proposals in the plenary sessions and the LegCo. The DAB would continue to urge the SAR government to strive for quarantine free travel to the mainland and to better integrate into the national development.

October 5, 2022 The DAB LegCo members exchanged views with the Secretary for Education Dr. Christine Choi on the policy address today (Oct 5) and submitted the newly released initiatives on "Understanding National Development, Shaping a positive Narrative of the country and Hong Kong". The DAB LegCo members expected the government to ensure the ongoing optimization of the work on Hong Kong’s national education and promotion of Chinese culture and patriotism, and set up a regional training centre to recruit overseas talents. DAB Spokesperson on Education Ms. Lillian Kwok stated that the government should review the grade structure in schools and allow schools to hire one social worker and one counsellor in order to provide comprehensive emotional supports for students. The Bureau responded positively and hoped to start a new chapter together for education in Hong Kong. Media enquiries: DAB Spokesperson on Education an LegCo member Lillian Kwok (5541 8128)